Donald Read, 95, a retired United Airlines employee who also worked for more than 20 years as a combination inspector for Fairfax County, died November 16 of heart ailments in Arlington, Virginia.
Born within the sound of Bow Bells in 1930, the youngest of three sons, Mr. Read was evacuated to the country, along with his brother Jack in September 1939. After a few months the boys returned to London to live with their parents for the duration of the war. In 1946 Mr. Read graduated from Kingston Technical College and began work as an apprentice in the construction industry.
From 1951 to 1953 he served as a military police officer in the Royal Air Force, stationed at R.A.F Wyton in Cambridgeshire. In 1955 he traveled to Rhodesia to work in the construction trade, first joining his brother Jack in Umtali, and later working in Salisbury. During breaks from work, he visited Durban and Johannesburg in South Africa. In 1959 he returned to England to the bedside of his father, who died in September of that year.
Mr. Read remained in England afterwards, working for the National Coal Board as a traveling representative. Leading a team that included three other representatives and a traveling exhibit, he visited cities and towns throughout Britain to demonstrate an improved smokeless fuel central heating system.
In January 1965 Mr. Read emigrated to the United States with two friends. Landing in New York, they made their way down to Florida to work in construction before making their way north again to settle in Washington, DC. Mr. Read met his future wife, Diana, at the English-Speaking Union in Washington in June 1966. Following their marriage in October 1967, they took up residence in Virginia.
Mr. Read went to work in the Environmental Division of Fairfax County Government as a combination inspector. He joined the Auxiliary Unit of the Fairfax County Police and served as an auxiliary police officer for 12 years in his spare time. Retiring from Fairfax County in 1994, he took a part-time position as customer service representative with United Airlines. During his employment with the airline, Mr. Read and his wife traveled to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East.
A tall, handsome man with a moustache, Mr. Read's courtly manner and British accent charmed coworkers as well as family and friends. Many of his Fairfax County colleagues addressed him as "Guvnor," which name he put on his car license plate. His first act on becoming a naturalized American citizen in 1970 was to register to vote at Arlington County courthouse. "How long have you been a citizen, Mr. Read?" the clerk asked. "About half an hour," Mr. Read replied. A former supporter of the Labor Party in England, he took a keen interest in progressive politics in his adopted country and served as an election officer for several years.
An avid supporter of Fulham Football Club in London, he also followed the Washington Commanders. He greatly enjoyed watching news programs as well as television shows imported from the U.K.
Mr. Read is survived by his wife, Diana; two sons, Eric and Trevor; stepdaughter Carol; nephew Christian; and niece, Alexandra. Don's United Kingdom and Australian surviving family include nephews, Simon and David; sister-in-law, Marie; and five nieces: Caroline, Deborah, Rosemary, Jeanette, and Merrilyn. A memorial service will be held in early December.
Born within the sound of Bow Bells in 1930, the youngest of three sons, Mr. Read was evacuated to the country, along with his brother Jack in September 1939. After a few months the boys returned to London to live with their parents for the duration of the war. In 1946 Mr. Read graduated from Kingston Technical College and began work as an apprentice in the construction industry.
From 1951 to 1953 he served as a military police officer in the Royal Air Force, stationed at R.A.F Wyton in Cambridgeshire. In 1955 he traveled to Rhodesia to work in the construction trade, first joining his brother Jack in Umtali, and later working in Salisbury. During breaks from work, he visited Durban and Johannesburg in South Africa. In 1959 he returned to England to the bedside of his father, who died in September of that year.
Mr. Read remained in England afterwards, working for the National Coal Board as a traveling representative. Leading a team that included three other representatives and a traveling exhibit, he visited cities and towns throughout Britain to demonstrate an improved smokeless fuel central heating system.
In January 1965 Mr. Read emigrated to the United States with two friends. Landing in New York, they made their way down to Florida to work in construction before making their way north again to settle in Washington, DC. Mr. Read met his future wife, Diana, at the English-Speaking Union in Washington in June 1966. Following their marriage in October 1967, they took up residence in Virginia.
Mr. Read went to work in the Environmental Division of Fairfax County Government as a combination inspector. He joined the Auxiliary Unit of the Fairfax County Police and served as an auxiliary police officer for 12 years in his spare time. Retiring from Fairfax County in 1994, he took a part-time position as customer service representative with United Airlines. During his employment with the airline, Mr. Read and his wife traveled to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East.
A tall, handsome man with a moustache, Mr. Read's courtly manner and British accent charmed coworkers as well as family and friends. Many of his Fairfax County colleagues addressed him as "Guvnor," which name he put on his car license plate. His first act on becoming a naturalized American citizen in 1970 was to register to vote at Arlington County courthouse. "How long have you been a citizen, Mr. Read?" the clerk asked. "About half an hour," Mr. Read replied. A former supporter of the Labor Party in England, he took a keen interest in progressive politics in his adopted country and served as an election officer for several years.
An avid supporter of Fulham Football Club in London, he also followed the Washington Commanders. He greatly enjoyed watching news programs as well as television shows imported from the U.K.
Mr. Read is survived by his wife, Diana; two sons, Eric and Trevor; stepdaughter Carol; nephew Christian; and niece, Alexandra. Don's United Kingdom and Australian surviving family include nephews, Simon and David; sister-in-law, Marie; and five nieces: Caroline, Deborah, Rosemary, Jeanette, and Merrilyn. A memorial service will be held in early December.
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